FiscalFusion

President Donald Trump will meet with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the White House on Thursday to talk about the relationship between the two countries, trade, and security. Since Trump entered office again last year, the two leaders have been at odds a lot. Trump put high tariffs on imports from Brazil and slammed Brazil for going after former President Jair Bolsonaro. Earlier this year, the U.S.

placed major tariffs on Brazilian imports, saying Brazil’s policies and the legal case against Bolsonaro created economic concerns. Some of those tariffs were later reduced as the Trump administration tried to lower prices for American consumers. Relations between Trump and Lula have improved in recent months. The two leaders met during the United Nations General Assembly in September and later held talks in Malaysia along with several phone calls.

Bolsonaro has been accused of trying to stay in power after losing Brazil’s 2022 election to Lula. The case has often been compared to investigations linked to the 2021 U.S. Capitol attack involving Trump supporters. Last month, Lula also defended Pope Leo XIV during disagreements between the pope and Trump over the Iran conflict.

Lula, who is 80 years old, is expected to seek reelection later this year. Analysts say the White House meeting could help improve ties between Washington and Brasília after months of political and economic disputes..